It's here: Part 9 of the 9 part series - how to get prayers answered
The Rhythm of The Prophets Part I - D12
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
9/12/20261 min read
How Can I Give You Up?
“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?” — Hosea 11:8, NKJV
Listen closely to Hosea’s words and you hear something unexpected.
Heartbreak.
God remembers Israel like a parent remembers a child learning to walk. “I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms.” He cared for them, healed them, and drew them with “bands of love.”
Still, they wandered.
Then comes the question: “How can I give you up?”
Sometimes we think of sin primarily in terms of rules we have broken. Hosea pulls back the curtain and lets us see the heart of the God against whom we have sinned. Our wandering is personal because His love is personal.
Jesus makes that love impossible to miss. He looks over Jerusalem and weeps for people who refuse to come to Him. Then He goes to the cross for people who reject Him.
Calvary is what “How can I give you up?” looks like when love goes all the way.
Maybe you have spent more time thinking about how disappointed God must be in you than about how deeply He wants you near Him.
The cross settles that question.
What would change if you truly believed that the God calling you back is the God who loved you enough to die for you?
Instead of hiding from God because of something you regret, bring it to Jesus. Let His love draw you closer rather than allowing shame to push you farther away.
SCRIPTURE PROMISE
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” — Jeremiah 31:3, NKJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for giving us the gift of love. No matter what we've done and how far we have gone, you are always ready to accept us back when we, with a repentant heart turn back to your direction. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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